The panoramic and scenic valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, known for their breath taking beauty and rich cultural heritage, are silently battling a crisis that threatens to consume an entire generation. Behind the serene landscapes lies a grim reality, tens of thousands of young men and women are trapped in the vicious cycle of substance abuse, their dreams shattered and their futures endangered by the relentless grip of addiction. Yet, amid this darkness, a concerted effort is underway to pull victims back from the precipice. The government, in partnership with healthcare institutions and civil society, is building a comprehensive framework for rehabilitation and social reintegration, recognising that those afflicted by drugs are not criminals to be punished but victims to be healed and restored to dignity.
The scale of the drug crisis in Jammu and Kashmir is staggering. Government data tabled in the Rajya Sabha reveals that the number of people treated for drug addiction in the Union Territory surged nearly ninefold in just five years, from 5,382 in 2021-22 to a staggering 46,491 in 2025-26. The National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use estimates that around 14 lakh individuals in Jammu and Kashmir use addictive substances, with opioids emerging as the most prevalent, affecting an estimated 5.4 lakh people. Behind these numbers are real human stories -young men who once harboured ambitions of becoming doctors, engineers, or teachers, now reduced to shadows of their former selves; families torn apart by the shame and financial ruin that addiction brings; mothers who spend sleepless nights praying for their children's return to sobriety. The human cost is immeasurable, and the urgency of the response cannot be overstated.
Recognising the gravity of the situation, the Government of India and the Union Territory administration have invested significantly in building de-addiction and rehabilitation infrastructure. Under the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR), Jammu and Kashmir currently has one Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), six District De-addiction Centres (DDACs), two Community-based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) centres, three Outreach and Drop-In Centres (ODICs), and twenty-one Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs) established in government hospitals across the Union Territory. These facilities serve as the first line of defence, offering medical detoxification, counselling, and primary care to those seeking to break free from substance dependence. Among the authorised rehabilitation centres making a tangible difference is the Integrated Rehabilitation Centre for Addicts (IRCA), which functions as a comprehensive facility providing holistic care to individuals struggling with severe addiction. The six District De-addiction Centres, spread across the Union Territory, bring de-addiction services closer to rural and remote communities, ensuring that geographical isolation does not become a barrier to recovery. The twenty-one Addiction Treatment Facilities, located within government hospitals, integrate addiction medicine into the broader healthcare system, allowing patients to receive treatment alongside other medical services. Complementing these government-run facilities, organisations such as the Jammu & Kashmir Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (JKSPYM) operate community-based de-addiction centres that provide counselling, rehabilitation, and community interventions. The CAUSE organisation, active in Jammu and Kashmir since 2010, runs drug de-addiction and rehabilitation programmes alongside community health initiatives, demonstrating the vital role that civil society plays in this fight.
However, rehabilitation is not merely about detoxification. It is about rebuilding lives. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has repeatedly emphasised that youth affected by drugs are victims who deserve dignity, livelihood, and a meaningful future. In line with this compassionate approach, the government has formulated the Rehabilitation and Socio-Economic Reintegration Scheme for Drug Abuse Victims, 2026, a first-of-its-kind long-term rehabilitation framework designed to address not just the medical aspects of addiction but also the social and economic dimensions of recovery. The scheme envisages a structured three-year rehabilitation cycle comprising three distinct phases.
Phase I, Treatment and Stabilisation, focuses on medical treatment, intensive counselling, and the preparation of Individual Rehabilitation Plans (IRPs) tailored to each patient's unique circumstances. During this phase, recovering individuals receive the medical care they need to overcome physical dependence, alongside psychological support to address the underlying trauma and mental health issues that often accompany addiction.
Phase II, Reintegration and Livelihood Activation, is aimed at facilitating education, skill development, employment, and family reintegration. This is perhaps the most critical phase, as it addresses the question that haunts every recovering addict: "What next?" Without gainful employment or a sense of purpose, the risk of relapse remains dangerously high. The scheme therefore links rehabilitated individuals with various government schemes for skill development, self-employment, and educational reintegration.
Phase III, Sustained Monitoring and Social Inclusion, provides continued follow-up, relapse prevention, community support, and long-term social reintegration through coordinated interventions by multiple departments. A dedicated Rehabilitation Monitoring Portal is being developed to facilitate digital case management, real-time tracking of rehabilitation outcomes, and inter-departmental convergence.
The pilot implementation of this ambitious scheme is set to begin in two most-affected districts – one from the Kashmir division and one from the Jammu division – to assess its effectiveness before being rolled out across the entire Union Territory. The government has also emphasised the importance of community participation in the rehabilitation process. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has directed that motivated women volunteers and groups be identified, trained, and involved in counselling and rehabilitation efforts. "Community participation is crucial for successful reintegration of victims into mainstream," he observed, adding that volunteers and interested government employees must be encouraged to actively participate in the rehabilitation process.
The Chief Secretary has stressed the need for a practical and result-oriented rehabilitation strategy capable of delivering tangible outcomes on the ground. He has called for the creation of a dedicated pool of trained patient mentors in every district, with at least 30 to 40 mentors identified and trained through specialised modules at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS) to provide continuous counselling and support to recovering addicts. These professionally trained mentors, he observed, would form the backbone of the rehabilitation programme. The government is also exploring incentive mechanisms to motivate mentors associated with the programme.
The Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan has played a pivotal role in creating awareness and reducing the stigma associated with addiction. The campaign has reached more than 1.20 crore people in Jammu and Kashmir, including over 69.14 lakh youth and 51.20 lakh women, while 8,565 Nasha Mukti Mitras have joined the movement against drug abuse. The National Toll-Free De-addiction Helpline 14446 has received more than 11,000 calls from Jammu and Kashmir, reflecting increased awareness and accessibility of support services. The 100-day Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir campaign, conducted from April to July 2026, resulted in the registration of around 2,300 FIRs, arrest of 2,600 people, seizure of 1,500 kilograms of narcotics, and attachment of properties worth approximately Rs 200 crore belonging to drug smugglers.
The regulatory framework has also been strengthened to ensure quality and accountability in rehabilitation services. The Jammu and Kashmir Substance Use Disorder Treatment, Counselling and Rehabilitation Centre Rules, 2026, enacted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, make licensing mandatory for all de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. The rules ban forced rehabilitation and mandate strict licensing norms, requiring each centre to have a qualified psychiatrist and an MBBS-trained medical officer with addiction medicine credentials. Yet, the journey is far from complete. The success of rehabilitation ultimately depends on society's willingness to embrace recovered individuals without prejudice. Stigma remains one of the greatest

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